Jaska
Headphoneus Supremus
- Joined
- Feb 16, 2007
- Posts
- 2,001
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- 13
About 7 years ago, when I first got into headphone listening, I discovered the HeadRoom website and Grado headphones. At the time, I remember wanting (really badly) to pick up a pair of SR-80s, but living in Finland, this wasn't so practical or economical. I ended up getting a decent pair of AKGs, and lived with them for several years during which time they served as my only "good" headphones.
Then, as I got deeper into digitizing my music collection and investing in some other gear, I decided to try some other headphones. Over the past couple of years, this has actually amounted to a pretty substantial amount of headphones. By now, I think I've listened to just about all the dynamic headphones I care to, and somehow I've resisted buying any Grados until recently.
This morning, I received my new Grado SR-225s, and have been hugely surprised by their sound. They are the most unusual headphones I've ever heard, and I mean unusual in a good way. I will admit that when I ordered these, it wasn't for any particular sonic trait I felt lacking in other headphones I own or have previously owned; rather I just wanted to get my feet wet with the Grado sound, and figured the SR-225 would be a logical point of entry. Within a couple of hours of listening, it registered with me that I was quite possibly hearing what I, at this premature point, would consider to be the best midrange reproduction I've ever heard through headphones. I'm not ready to make any actual claims about these headphones at all yet, since I haven't listened to them enough for that, but the only other headphones I've owned that even come close to these in the mids are the AKG K271S. I have paid so little attention to Grado in the past that I'm not even sure if strong mids are the hallmark of the Grado "house sound," but I think I've really found a headphone that I can dig a lot with much of the music that I listen to (I've so far been through Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Weld double album, Dave Matthews Band's Weekend On the Rocks show, and Norah Jones' Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home albums).
I'm listening to the SR-225 straight out of the headphone jack of my Apogee Duet, and noticing what I consider to be pretty anemic bass, even for an open headphone. As with the AKG K271S, though, I don't mind giving up a bit of bass depth or even impact if I can have the mids I want. In the near future, my setup will change to include an RSA XP-7 amp, and I do hope that the bass will reach at least a bit deeper with the Grados. And, yes, I am prepared to roll op-amps (I have a pair of AD797s on order).
Lastly, I'm finding myself appreciating the highs, at least for the most part, with the Grados. They're certainly more extended than what I've become used to with the likes of the HD-580, but surprisingly I don't find them grating--so far. I suspect that once I delve deeper into my music library, I will eventually land on some material that puts the treble just a touch over the top, at least when using the Duet's headphone output. Again, I'm hoping that the XP-7, with the right op-amps, will give me a consistent presentation that I'll be happy with.
I just typed about 15 times the amount of text I planned to, so I'll wrap things quickly up by saying that the Grado SR-225 has been one heck of a nice surprise for me after all these years of completely overlooking the whole Grado line.
Then, as I got deeper into digitizing my music collection and investing in some other gear, I decided to try some other headphones. Over the past couple of years, this has actually amounted to a pretty substantial amount of headphones. By now, I think I've listened to just about all the dynamic headphones I care to, and somehow I've resisted buying any Grados until recently.
This morning, I received my new Grado SR-225s, and have been hugely surprised by their sound. They are the most unusual headphones I've ever heard, and I mean unusual in a good way. I will admit that when I ordered these, it wasn't for any particular sonic trait I felt lacking in other headphones I own or have previously owned; rather I just wanted to get my feet wet with the Grado sound, and figured the SR-225 would be a logical point of entry. Within a couple of hours of listening, it registered with me that I was quite possibly hearing what I, at this premature point, would consider to be the best midrange reproduction I've ever heard through headphones. I'm not ready to make any actual claims about these headphones at all yet, since I haven't listened to them enough for that, but the only other headphones I've owned that even come close to these in the mids are the AKG K271S. I have paid so little attention to Grado in the past that I'm not even sure if strong mids are the hallmark of the Grado "house sound," but I think I've really found a headphone that I can dig a lot with much of the music that I listen to (I've so far been through Neil Young & Crazy Horse's Weld double album, Dave Matthews Band's Weekend On the Rocks show, and Norah Jones' Come Away With Me and Feels Like Home albums).
I'm listening to the SR-225 straight out of the headphone jack of my Apogee Duet, and noticing what I consider to be pretty anemic bass, even for an open headphone. As with the AKG K271S, though, I don't mind giving up a bit of bass depth or even impact if I can have the mids I want. In the near future, my setup will change to include an RSA XP-7 amp, and I do hope that the bass will reach at least a bit deeper with the Grados. And, yes, I am prepared to roll op-amps (I have a pair of AD797s on order).
Lastly, I'm finding myself appreciating the highs, at least for the most part, with the Grados. They're certainly more extended than what I've become used to with the likes of the HD-580, but surprisingly I don't find them grating--so far. I suspect that once I delve deeper into my music library, I will eventually land on some material that puts the treble just a touch over the top, at least when using the Duet's headphone output. Again, I'm hoping that the XP-7, with the right op-amps, will give me a consistent presentation that I'll be happy with.
I just typed about 15 times the amount of text I planned to, so I'll wrap things quickly up by saying that the Grado SR-225 has been one heck of a nice surprise for me after all these years of completely overlooking the whole Grado line.
